Wednesday, July 27, 2011

A bouquet to the Boards of the National and ACT Parties for their give and take over the selection of Paul Goldsmith to campaign solely for the Party vote in Epsom giving John Banks a clear run for the seat. If as reported the qpq is for ACT to stand aside in both New Plymouth and Waimakariri, increasing the chances of Jonathan Young retaining New Plymouth for National and clearing the way for the odious Clayton Cosgrove to be knocked of his perch in Waimakariri, then more power to their elbows and it matters not a jot that Little and Cosgrove complain about a stitch up. This folks is MMP in maturing action and the word is that Labour and the Greens are well advanced on similar deals.

A bouquet too to the ACT Board in dumping Ancell for his hate speech rhetoric. ACT is far far better than that. It simply does not need to go down the path of Maori bashing emulating Winston First whose anti Asian campaign triggered a wave of xenophobia that was an embarrassment for New Zealand. ACT should be there arguing for reduced government. better spending and choices. They do that well. Playing the race card is divisive and unnecessary. Well done ACT.

A brickbat though for Don Brash. He has many great qualities. But political nous is not one of them and his latest musings that ACT may choose to sit on the cross-benches is proof positive of that. So now we have John Banks campaigning that he wants to be part of a John Key led National/ACT Government and his leader cutting the ground from under his feet. That will have many ACT members tearing their hair out and the mixed message sent to Epsom voters isn't smart politics.